r/FordEscapePHEV

Edit: I entered the wrong Program number. It is 23B64. Sorry.

Edit #2: based on the replies, %70 limit will applies if it the software finds something wrong (some parameters that the software identifies). otherwise, charging can go back to 100% (according to one reply). If Ford is reading this, they really need to be "clearer" about this fix, and they need to inform the dealers so the message is right. Thera are a lot of unhappy folks at the moment.

Did anyone go with this update?

The service tech told me that this update will hard-code the maximum charge to 70% !!! Even though we've been told to do so at 80%. I guess Ford does not trust that we've done the manual update ourselves.

Any news on when an official repair/parts replacement will be ready?

I like everything I've read about this car. Now I read that the last one was produced in December 2025 and no more will be made. Is this a cause for concern? Would it affect parts availability or something like that? We tend to keep our cars a long time - well beyond the manufacturer warranty, so it is likely that we would eventually be replacing parts that normally wear out.

Anyone pick this over the fully electric Mach E and if so, why? I can charge at home and don’t take many road trips. I do about 15 miles a day, 8k miles a year (occasional trips). I can get a 2022 Mach E for about $28k or a 2024 Escape for about $24k. So, not an insignificant difference.

Hey everyone, I have a maintenance question for other Escape Plug-in Hybrid owners.

About 80% of my driving is done in EV mode, so the ICE engine doesn’t run nearly as much as it would in a regular gas vehicle. I’m wondering how that changes long-term maintenance requirements and intervals.

For example:
- Do you still follow the normal oil change interval based on mileage/time, or do you stretch it because the engine runs less?
- Same question for transmission/other fluid changes.
- Are there any hybrid-specific maintenance items I should pay more attention to?

I’m trying to understand whether maintenance should be based more on total vehicle kilometers or actual engine usage/runtime.

Would appreciate hearing from owners with higher EV-driving percentages and longer-term experience. Thanks!

Are there any differences between the two except that EV now just has a higher power band and allows you to accelerate more on battery? Auto EV just has the threshold lower and will turn on the engine to help accelerate?

Recently got a Kuga and have a question around the charging cable/port.

Should you be able to press the unlock button in the charging port area to remove the charging cable even whilst the car is locked? (Have turned off keyless entry in the SYNC3 system) I assumed that if the car was locked it wouldn’t let you remove the cable…

My 21 is at 79K and still riding on the original pads/rotors. Those who have changed them at what mileage did you finally have to? They still have some wear left on them....

Coming from the Chevy camp. Drove Volts for a decade (Gen1 and Gen2). Love PHEVs, but can’t afford a RAV 4 PHEV. don’t know anything about modern Fords (last ford I touched was a 2013 C-Max Energi)

I found a 2023 Escape PHEV base (no leather)., for cheap. It has a crazy amount of miles (110k). It is waiting on the battery recall fix, but does not appear to be waiting on anything else (according to the VIN lookup)

(1) how reliable are these things, excluding the battery recall? Is it crazy to try to daily drive one?

(2) what’s the parts situation? with the Escape being cancelled, are any parts of this drivetrain still in production on other vehicles? (Maverick?) is it still feasible to get them repaired?

(3) anything someone should know or check, before picking one of these up?

I recently got a mail from Ford for the recall software update with a 5-digit service#. The dealership updated the recall software on my car and the app no more shows any active recalls.

But, what now? I assume the recall would show on the carfax and buyers will take advantage of that fact to lower the car price? If thats the case, would it be smarter to sell the car soon? Wondering whats the right thing to do.

Thanks!

Does anybody have ideas for adding a 12V outlet (cigarette lighter plug) to the cargo area of a 2025?

Last year I took some notes, saying I miss this from C-max. As a whitewater rafter, it's convenient to inflate from the back hatch instead of center console. C-max also had 120V outlet, which I seldom used.

After the first 8000 miles I decided to let the car do its thing. Inconvenient to switch in and out of EV Now. Electric economy menu is extremely approximate and does not reset like the gasoline economy menu. I noted 41.8 mpg on a 617 mile no-recharge trip, mostly 70-75 mph, and 50.6 miles on "full" 11 kWh charge, 4.6 miles per kWh.

I haven't used any gas this week and I last "filled up" last week, and my milage really isn't increasing. I'm still at 3/4 of a tank and my estimate is less then 380mi. I have seen people talk about getting 500+ on a tank and a single charge. So I dunno maybe once I use the engine it will get better estimates? My estimated on a charge is currently at 47.

I thought the manual said the engine icon would light up when the engine turns on..am I mistaken? There are no dash lights or anything???

I typically only drive 15-20 miles round trip a day. Given that, does it make sense to only charge to 80% for battery health purposes? My understanding is that keeping a battery topped off is less efficient for the long term health of the battery.

I would still comfortably be within an all-electric range. Then on those days when I’ll do longer drives, charge it to 100%.

This question is unrelated to the battery safety recall issue, where it’s recommended you only charge to 80% for safety reasons; my car so far hasn’t been affected by that.

I had a 21 hybrid with 120k and wanted to trade in so I could go another 100k with no issues (I mean I could of gotten much more out of the 21 but it was 8k off for a 26 phev and I got 8k for the trade and I know I was going to need a new battery in 2 years max, it was getting noticable.. charging and charging and charging and still not charged. Wouldn't regenerative charge half the times either.

I guess the 21 was the second year but going from the 21 to 26 is a huge difference. It's so much quieter, smoother, and built better I think. It's just unbelievable. I can barely hear the engine running. The 21 was pretty loud. Just everything. Windows are so much smoother, the led lights light up the road so much better then then 21 and the interior lighting is so much brighter. I can't believe they discontinued them. I guess if they share the same platform with the broncos they can move them over and charge another 10k for them. That's why I made the purchase now because id rather pay 35k then 3 years from now and pay 45k for a bronco hybrid.

They want to move them so if you are interested have fun. The only thing I'm worried about is parts in 5 years but who knows.

I looked on here and only saw the following post from 3 years ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/FordEscapePHEV/comments/115lsev/not_charging_off_solar_generator/

I am considering getting an electrician to add a 240V outlet to my garage to level 2 charge my Escape, as well as any other car I tend to buy later. However electric costs have been rising lately so I am also considering getting a solar backup generators so I can charge the car off the grid.

I see that I will need to ground the car but wondered how useful it is.

My daily commute to work is about 30 miles both ways and I get about 35 to 41 miles range in the summer so unless I am running a lot of errands I typically don't use any gas during the week.

My plan is to charge the battery during the day while at work, then move it into my garage to charge the car during the evening until it drains, then any remaining would be on the electric outlet. Even if I get 15 to 20 miles range that would be a nice saving.

So would also need something that is easy to roll around.

If anyone has done this let me know how easy it is to do and if it's worth it.

I am looking to buy a 2026 Ford Escape PHEV, and I am having difficulty finding the real-world fuel consumption when driving in hybrid mode only on the highway at 110–115 km/h during summer. I also can’t find clear information about the electric-only driving range.

Even harder to find is the fuel consumption on highway in hybrid mode and the electric range during a Canadian winter, for example at around –20 °C.

Wife's C-max Energi had the hybrid battery fail after 11 years. Was quoted at 10,600 to repair. We shopped around and ended up with a 2025 phev.

Curious what everyone paid. This one was slightly used with 11,000 on the odo. Appears to be in good shape. Negotiated down a bit from listed 28,7 to just over 26,000. Did I get a fair price or was there more wiggle room to be had?

Regardless the wife seems to like it. Her second choice was the Prius Phev but I couldn't get them to wiggle on price nearly as much.

Wtf? Reading the brochure from flood ford it states hybrid batteries are not covered. I feel like this is saying they intend for them to fail..